A community based cross sectional study to assess non-disease risk predictors associated with tooth loss among urban population in Haryana

Aim: To assess the prevalence of tooth loss among urban population in Ambala city and to evaluate the risk predictors associated with tooth loss. Methods: The present community based cross sectional survey was carried out on 1200 subjects aged 35-74 years. Multistage systematic random sampling technique was executed to collect the representative sample from the urban areas of Ambala city. Results: Mean number of missing teeth in the study population was 4.2.  Out of total, 51.8% adults had at least one tooth missing and 63 (5.2%) adults were completely edentulous. Tooth loss was higher among the older adults, those who were widows/widowers and unmarried, less educated and belonging to lower social classes. Adults who cleaned their teeth less than twice daily, who consumed vegetarian diet and sugary snacks and/or drinks more than 5 times between meals and those who smoked had greater tooth loss. Conclusions: Tooth loss was higher among aged and those belonging to lower socio-economic status. In addition, it was also dependent on behavioural factors.